If I get no regular analog tv signal where I live (appt. building). Is it possible I will get digital signal?

Question

The appt I live is in a bit of a valley and we've never been able to get a good tv signal using rabbit ears. I was thinking of trying a HDTV box and seeing if the digital signal works... Is it worth my time, or do you think it would be a waste of money? We pay 4.99 a month for DirecTV's local channels only, and don't really need any bigger package, but it would be nice to get HDTV.

Answer 1

A weak analogue signal can produce a picture, albeit noisy.



A weak digital signal won't produce anything. It's eitther strong enough or it isn't, there's no half-way.



Ask your neighbours and friends if they can get digital reception. It might be worth talking to a t.v. antenna installer too.

Answer 2

(This answer assumes you are in the US)



It is unlikely that you would get satisfactory digital signals using the same antennas you tried before.



As far as TV antennas are concerned, digital and analog TV signals are identical. But an analog tuner can frequently display a poor image under conditions where a digital tuner cannot maintain a signal lock.



Asking neighbors what there experience has been is a good place to start.



If you want to pursue this, its better to spend some time/money finding the best antenna for the job. The first link below has a place that can tell you what directions & frequencies of your local TV transmitters. The second link has reviews of various TV antennas.



If you don't have a resent vintage digital (ATSC) tuner, the government is starting a coupon program in Jan 2008 that will let you buy a digital tuner/converter for about $20. It only outputs SD quality signals, but it would be a cheap way to see what kind of results you can get. Check in Jan to see which of the cheap boxes does the best in weak signal environments.



If you don't end up using the $20 box, you can probably find someone who can use it. (It looks like I will need a third one, and the government will only give out two coupons per household 8- )

Answer 3

You'll NEVER get your LOCAL TV stations using Rabbit ears....

You would need a tower/repeater at the top of your valley to get your local TV stations.



You'll probably be stuck with Direct TV and you won't get any HD stations without upgrading to the HD box AND the HD package.



So, talk to Direct TV.....

They ARE the ones that can provide ! They are your best source of TV and HD signals, because their transmitter is 120 miles above you, shooting straight into your valley....

Answer 4

you will possibly have a difficulty as digital and Analogue use an identical frequency variety for sending the television indicators. the reason that they are going to get rid of the analogue sign is those take in lots greater bandwidth than a digital one. sooner or later they are going to be waiting to greater healthful meny greater digital television chanels into an identical frequency variety that one analoge station used to apply.

Answer 5

He comprado televisores de dimensión, más bien pequeñitas, en los sitios web y he sido muy contenta con ellas así que he comprado también un televisor de plasma grande para el salón, no me arrepiento en ningún momento porque he hecho la mejor compra, por un buen precio tengo un televisor increíble, con imagen y sonido de alta calidad y una fácil montaje en la pared, una compra muy buena.